Removable rollers

ABSTRACT

In a roller system including a rack assembly having spaced side carriers between which a plurality of pairs of rollers rotate and cooperate to drive a web, said rollers being rotatable between the side carriers within laterally spaced bearings. One movable bearing for each roller is carried within a slide bearing carrier which slidingly engages its associated side carrier to facilitate easy roller removal. The other bearing is fixed and is immovably held within the opposite side carrier by a bearing carrier.

United States Patent Hope et al.

[ Apr. 30, 1974 REMOVABLE ROLLERS Inventors: Henry F. Hope, 195 Welsh Rd.,

Huntingdon Valley, Pa. 18640; Stephen F. Hope, 2321 Wyandotte Rd., Willow Grove, Pa. 15204 Filed: Oct. 25, 1972 Appl. No.: 300,659

US. Cl. 226/194, 308/20 Int. Cl B65h 17/20 Field of Search 226/194, 189, 181, 176;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1962 Klahn ..30s/20x l/l967 Bueker ..225/194x 2,983,352 5/1961 De Flora et a1 308/20 X Primary Examinr-Allen Knowles Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Karl L. Spivak ABSTRACT In a roller system including a rack assembly having spaced side carriers between which a plurality of pairs of rollers rotate and cooperate to drive a web, said rollers being rotatable between the side carriers within laterally spaced bearings. One movable bearing for each roller is carried within a slide bearing carrier which slidingly engages its associated side carrier to facilitate easy roller removal. The other bearing is fixed and is immovably held within the opposite side carrier by a bearing carrier.

8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 30 I974 SHEU 1 UP 2 Y REMOVABLE ROLLERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the field of materials handling equipment, and more particularly, is directed to removable rollers for use in transporting web materials in elongate configuration, such as photographic film.

It is the present practice to develop x-ray film and other film automatically by utilizing a plurality of side by side processing tanks and by employing film rack assemblies within the processing tanks to direct the film through the various stages of the development process. The presently available rack .assemblies all utilize pairs of cooperating driving and driven rollers to automatically lead the film through the various development stages. The invention is applicable to all automatic photographic processors such as x-ray, graphic arts, commercial film, etc. In addition, the device is useful in guiding elongate webs of material of all descriptive characteristics wherein the use of cooperating rollers may be beneficial or desirable to drive the web material for a desired purpose.

While the present invention will be described particularly in conjunction with self-contained, automatic film processing equipment, it will be appreciated that the invention is equally applicable to all types of web material wherein cooperating rollers are employed for web driving purposes. Self-contained, automatic film processing equipment of the type contemplated for use with the instant invention usually includes a plurality of adjacent processing tanks,each of which is equipped with a rack assembly having a plurality of pairs of driving'and driven rollers. The rollers contact the film sur face to drive the exposed x-ray or other film through the various processing tanks which contain the required developers, fixers and washes to positively and automatically develop exposed x-ray or other film in accordance with well known principles of filrn developmg.

Separate, juxtaposed rack assemblies for the developer tank, the fixer tank and the wash tank have been utilized to feed the exposed x-ray or other film directly through the required tanks in an automatic manner. Such rack assemblies direct the film downwardly into each respective tank and then upwardly through the tank to exit from a tank and to introduce the film into the next adjacent tank. Because of the nature of the operation, it is sometimes necessary to separate the cooperating pairs of rollers to facilitate cleaning, clearing jammed material, threading or other maintenance or processing operations. The prior art rack assemblies of which we are familiar have the rollers journalled within right and left side carriers relatively in permanent manner which discourages attempts to separate the rollers by all but mechanics highly skilled in the art. Because of the permanency of the construction, prior workers in the art have found that considerable time and expense was involved when it was found necessary to remove the rollers from the side carriers after installation for any purpose whatsoever.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to automatic x-ray or other film processing or web handling equipment, and more particularly, is directed to a novel roller mount suitable to permit removal of rollers from their associated side carriers'without requiring extensive down time or equipment disassembly.

ing guides, the guides being'suitably constructed to permit sliding and seating within the cooperating slots in the spaced side carriers. Means are provided to retain the g'u'ideswithinthe' side carriers during all periods of normal use.

Cooperating pairs of rollers journal within side carriers of a rack assembly to direct the film or other web material through processing tanks or other apparatus and include a plurality of driven and driving rollers operated through a gear train to propel the web at constant speed in well known manner. Each roller is provided with a stationary bearing in one side carrier and a removable bearing which is removably retained in sliding engagement within the other side carrier. By removing the rernovable bearing from its associated side carrier, the bearing may be readily removed from between the side carriers for cleaning, replacement or other maintenance or installation purposes.

It is therefore an object of the presentinvention to provide an improved removable roller arrangement of the type set forth.

It is another object of the present invention to provide'novel removable rollers for use within cooperating side carriers in a manner to permit easy removal of the rollers without requiring-extensive disassembly of the equipment.

It is another object of the present invention to provide novel roller'removal equipment includinga pair of spaced, side carriers and roller bearings mounted within the side carriers, one bearing for each said roller being stationary with respect to its associated side carrier and the other said bearing being removable with respect to its associated side carrier.

It is another object of the present invention to provide novel removable rollers rotatably retained within apair of spaced side carrier's, said removable rollers incorporating sliding means relative to the side carriers to facilitate removal of the rollers without disturbing other equipment.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel removable roller arrangement including a I pair of spaced bearings for each roller, said bearings being-retained withinside carriers and-one said bearing for each roller beingreadily removable from its associated side carrier.

It is another objectof the present invention to provide a novel removable roller-system wherein a plurality of rollers are rotatably retained within apair of spaced side carriers, each: said roller in the system being provided with sliding-means to facilitate-easy removal of the roller fromits association with theside carriers, each said roller bein'g'provided with easily removable drive belts and easily removable tensioning springs.

It is another object of thep'resent invention to provide a novel removable roller system that is rugged in construction, inexpensive in manufacture and troublefree when in operation.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention will be had by referring to the following description and claims. of a preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views and in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS HO. 1 is a partial, perspective view of a roller system incorporating the removable rollers of the present invention and partially broken away to expose internal construction details. 7 I

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a roller system similar to FIG. 1, partially exploded and partially broken away.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Although specific terms are used in the following description for the sake of clarity, these terms are intended'to refer only to the particular structure of our invention selected for illustration in the drawlngs, and

are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, we show in FIG. 1 a portion of a roller system which is suitable for use in the usual manner to conduct a sheet of web material through the system in a pre-determined manner by contive, rotative action. Each shaft l4 laterally extends from its associated roller body 12 to form right and left bearing extensions 18, 20 to facilitate the connection of roller drive and idler pulleys in the usual manner.

The side carriers 16, 17 are punched or otherwise machined to provide a plurality of openings 22, 24 to respectively accommodate the roller shaft slide bearings 26'and fixed bearings 28. It will be noted that each roller journals within one slide bearing 26 and one fixed bearing 28 to thereby facilitate easy removal of each roller 10 from the associated side carriers 16, 18 by removal of the slide bearing 26. Inasmuch as the roller 10 can pivot about its fixed bearing 28 relative to the side carriers 16, 17, only one roller bearing need be slidingly secured for roller removal purposes.

Each fixed bearing 28 is formed in a bearing carrier 30 which may be fabricated of nylon or other hard plastic suitable for the use. The bearing carrier 30 is affixed to a side carrier 16 or 17- by inserting into the widened portion 32 of the fixed bearing opening 24 and then horizontally sliding into place. Upper and lower tracks 34 are formed in the bearing carrier 30 and thesetracks slidingly engage into the narrow portion 36 of the fixed bearing opening 24. The engagement of the tracks 34 upon the narrow portion 36 secures the bearing carrier 30 in position to rotatively receive a shaft bearing extension 18 therein in rotative engagement. The oppo-- site bearing extension rotates within a slide bearin 26 in the manner hereinafter described. Each slide bearing 26 is formed in a slide bearing carrier 38 which preferably is fabricated of nylon or other hard plastic material suitable for the use. Each slide opening 22 includes a widened portion 40 of adequate size to permit removal of the slide bearing carrier 38 from its associated side carrier 16 or 17. The widened portion 40 communicates with an elongate, parallel portion 42 of the opening 22 and received the slide bearing carrier 38 therein. The upper and lower edges of the slide bearing carrier 38 are provided with spaced, parallel tracks 44 which slidingly engagethe edges of the parallel portion 42 of the slide opening 22. Thus, by urging the slide bearing carrier 38 outwardly from its associated side carrier 16, 17, the slide bearing 26 may thus be easily removed from the assembly at the widened opening portion-40. Inasmuch as the shaft bearing extension 20 positions within the slide bearing 26, removal of the slide bearing carrier 38 will also remove one endof the roller 10 by pivoting the shaft bearing extension 18 about its fixed bearing 28. Once one shaft bearing extension 20 has been urged out of its associated side carrier 16 or 17 by removal of the slide bearing carrier 38, the entire roller 10 can then readily be removedsimply by pulling its other shaft bearing extension 18 out of the fixed bearing 28.

It will be appreciated that the rollers 10 can be driven in well known manner such as by affixing gears 54 to a shaft bearing extension 20 exteriorly-of the side carrier l6 inwell known manner, such as by employing a cotter pin 56 acting through the shaft extension hole 58. The gear 54 in lieu thereof may be driven through a gear or belt drive (not shown) also in well known manner to provide a complete system of driving and driven rollers for sheet or web transporting purposes. In the case ofgear drive, the gear 54 associated with the roller 10 to be removed is simply pulled out of mesh with its associated driving gear (not shown) by sliding the slide bearing carrier 38 outwardly relative to its side carrier 16. Inthe case .of a belt drive operation (not shown) it would first be necessary to disconnect the roller gear 54 from the beltdrive prior to sliding the slide bearing carrier 38 relative to its associated side carrier 16.

In order to prevent undesired movement of a slide bearing carrier 38 when it is not desired to remove a roller, we have found it desirable to provide a pulley 46 in association with each slide bearing carrier 38 at the slide bearing 26 thereof. The pulley 46 faces outwardly from the side carrier 16, 17 to receive a spring or band 52 for tensioning purposes. Each bearing carrier 30 is similarly equipped with a pulley 48 at thefixed bearing 28 and the pulley 48 faces outwardly from its associated side carrier 16 or 17.A resilient band 52 biases between adjacent pulleys 46, 48 to prevent undesirable relative movement therebetween. In the event two slide bearing carriers 38 horizontally align, we have found it desirabie to employ a spring 50 for tensioning purposes to prevent relative movement between the slide bearing carriers 38. Therefore, prior to removing a roller 10, it is first necessary to disconnect either the bands 52 or spring 50 from the respective pulleys 46, 48 thereby allowing sliding movement of the slide bearing carrier 38 with respect to its associate parallel portion 42 of the opening 22.

We claim:

1. In a roller system adapted for easy roller removal and including a plurality of rollers having shafts which terminate outwardly in first and second shaft extensions,,the combination of A. a pair of spaced, roller retaining, right and left side carriers,

1. said side carriers being provided with a plurality of slide bearing openings and a plurality of fixed bearing openings,

2. each right side carrier being provided with a fixed bearing opening that is in horizontal alignment with a slide bearing opening provided in the left side carrier,

3. each left side carrier being provided with fixed bearing opening that is in horizontal alignment with a slide bearing opening provided in the right side carrier;

B. a fixed bearing carrier associated with each fixed bearing opening,

1. said fixed bearing carrier including a fixed bear- 2. said fixed bearing receiving a first shaft extension of the roller shaft therein in rotative engagement;

C. a slide bearing carrier associated with each said slide bearing opening,

1. each said slide bearing carrier being provided with a slide bearing,

2. each said second shaft extension rotating within a slide bearing; and

D. slide means to easily remove each slide bearing carrier from its associated side carrier whereby each roller is rendered easily removable from the side carriers.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein each slide bearing opening is formed with a parallel walled portion and a widened portion in communication therewith to form a portion of the said slide means.

3. In a roller system adapted for easy roller removal and including a plurality of rollers having shafts which terminate outwardly in first and second shaft extensions the combination of A. a pair of spaced, roller retaining, side carriers,

1-. said side carriers being provided with a plurality of slide bearing openings and a plurality of fixed bearing openings,

a. said slide bearing openings being formed with a parallel walled portion and a widened portion 6 in communication therewith;

B. a fixed bearing carrier associated with each fixed bearing opening;

1. said fixedbearing carrier including a fixed bear- 2. said fixed bearing receiving a first shaft extension of the roller shaft therein in rotative engagement;

C. a slide bearing carrier associated with each said slide bearing opening,

1. said slide bearing carrier being provided with a slide bearing, i

2. the said second shaft extension rotating within the said slide bearing,

3. each slide bearing carrier being formed with a pair of spaced tracks, the said tracks engaging upon and sliding with respect to the said parallel walled portion; and

D. slide means to easily remove each slide bearing carrier from its associated side carrier whereby each roller is rendered easily removable from the side carriers,

1. the said slide bearing openings and the said tracks forming portions of the slide means.

4. The invention of claim 2 wherein each fixed bearing opening is formed with a narrow portion and a communicating widened portion.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the fixed bearing carrier is formed with a pair of spaced tracks, the said tracks engaging upon and sliding with respect to the said narrow portion of the fixed bearing opening.

6. The invention of claim 3 wherein the first and second shaft extensions are provided with pulleys which position outwardly from the respective side carriers and resilient means to bias adjacent pulleys together.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the said resilient means include a resilient band, the said band encircling adjacent pulleys to prevent the associated rollers from being removed from the side carriers.

8. The invention of claim 6 wherein said means include a spring clip, the said spring clip biasing between adjacent pulleys to prevent the associated rollers from being removed from the side carriers. 1 

1. In a roller system adapted for easy roller removal and including a plurality of rollers having shafts which terminate outwardly in first and second shaft extensions, the combination of A. a pair of spaced, roller retaining, right and left side carriers,
 1. said side carriers being provided with a plurality of slide bearing openings and a plurality of fixed bearing openings,
 2. each right side carrier being provided with a fixed bearing opening that is in horizontal alignment with a slide bearing opening provided in the left side carrier,
 3. each left side carrier being provided with fixed bearing opening that is in horizontal alignment with a slide bearing opening provided in the right side carrier; B. a fixed bearing carrier associated with each fixed bearing opening,
 1. said fixed bearing carrier including a fixed bearing,
 2. said fixed bearing receiving a first shaft extension of the roller shaft therein in rotative engagement; C. a slide bearing carrier associated with each said slide bearing opening,
 1. each said slide bearing carrier being provided with a slide bearing,
 2. each said second shaft extension rotating within a slide bearing; and D. slide means to easily remove each slide bearing carrier from its associated side carrier whereby each roller is rendered easily removable from the side carriers.
 2. each right side carrier being provided with a fixed bearing opening that is in horizontal alignment with a slide bearing opening provided in the left side carrier,
 2. said fixed bearing receiving a first shaft extension of the roller shaft therein in rotative engagement; C. a slide bearing carrier associated with each said slide bearing opening,
 2. each said second shaft extension rotating within a slide bearing; and D. slide means to easily remove each slide bearing carrier from its associated side carrier whereby each roller is rendered easily removable from the side carriers.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein each slide bearing opening is formed with a parallel walled portion and a widened portion in communication therewith to form a portion of the said slide means.
 2. said fixed bearing receiving a first shaft extension of the roller shaft therein in rotative engagement; C. a slide bearing carrier associated with each said slide bearing opening,
 2. the said second shaft extension rotating within the said slide bearing,
 3. each slide bearing carrier being formed with a pair of spaced tracks, the said tracks engaging upon and sliding with respect to the said parallel walled portion; and D. slide means to easily remove each slide bearing carrier from its associated side carrier whereby each roller is rendered easily removable from the side carriers,
 3. In a roller system adapted for easy roller removal and including a plurality of rollers having shafTs which terminate outwardly in first and second shaft extensions the combination of A. a pair of spaced, roller retaining, side carriers,
 3. each left side carrier being provided with fixed bearing opening that is in horizontal alignment with a slide bearing opening provided in the right side carrier; B. a fixed bearing carrier associated with each fixed bearing opening,
 4. The invention of claim 2 wherein each fixed bearing opening is formed with a narrow portion and a communicating widened portion.
 5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the fixed bearing carrier is formed with a pair of spaced tracks, the said tracks engaging upon and sliding with respect to the said narrow portion of the fixed bearing opening.
 6. The invention of claim 3 wherein the first and second shaft extensions are provided with pulleys which position outwardly from the respective side carriers and resilient means to bias adjacent pulleys together.
 7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the said resilient means include a resilient band, the said band encircling adjacent pulleys to prevent the associated rollers from being removed from the side carriers.
 8. The invention of claim 6 wherein said means include a spring clip, the said spring clip biasing between adjacent pulleys to prevent the associated rollers from being removed from the side carriers. 